Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), was recently asked some questions about the logistics of repealing DADT. Frank dismissed concerns over homosexuals showering with straight members of the military as a “silly issue.”
On the other hand, when asked if males and females should be able to shower together, he said “No, that would disrupt people.”
The implication, Read more
Douglas Wilson, most well-known for his long-term debate and friendship with Christopher Hitchens, has a short post on the issue of homosexuality in the military. He is yet another voice highlighting that many who supported repeal miss the point (perhaps intentionally) when they try to characterize those who oppose repeal.
The public discussion has thus far, in its sophomoric talking points way, addressed whether straight servicemen are willing to “serve alongside” their openly homosexual peers. This question would obviously include evangelical Christians. But this is not the question at all.
Anybody who has spent any time in the military knows that it is not a bastion of righteous behavior. If you join, you will serve alongside fornicators and drunks, and you will learn how to work together with them. Adding patriotic poofters to the mix is a non-issue, and barely worth discussing.
He’s absolutely correct. There are certainly legitimate issues of sexuality in the military, but those discussions have been ongoing for decades — reference gender. Therefore, it is not the central issue on this topic.
The issue is this. Homosexual Read more
A local Colorado paper interviewed graduates and students of Colorado University on their perceptions of the recent repeal of the law banning homosexuals from military service. Some of the article focused on the desire of former servicemembers, discharged for being homosexual, to re-enter the service, though that has been widely discussed. The end of the article was interesting:
CU senior Kyle Inselman, a member of the GLBT campus community…said the repeal is not a victory for the transgender community, since “don’t ask, don’t tell” is only one of the issues keeping them out of the military…
“I think that to frame this as a victory for the GLBT community is wrong, because transgender people still cannot serve in the military,” Inselman said. “We need to not forget about fighting for (transgender) inclusion in our military as well as gay, lesbian and bisexual people.”
Seems like this line of thinking has been brought up before…
In an interesting dance of politics and semantics, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, reportedly said
the Catholic church is not in a position to evaluate the impact of openly gay service members on military readiness directly…
but
“That is a question that has to be worked out politically. And there isn’t a specific Catholic Church position,” he said, “but whatever happens, it has to be seen in terms of the church’s teaching position. And that is, Read more
Websites belittling Commandant of the Marine Corps General James Amos are increasingly referring to his religion — some in an “off-hand” manner, others directly, as if it has something to do with current issues.
Interestingly, the “source” for General Amos’ faith is listed as this site. The June 2010 article on his nomination for Commandant noted his speech at the 2009 National Day of Prayer. Since then, that article has been cited in a variety of sources, including the ever reliable Wikipedia, as proof Amos is “born again.” In fact, a web search for Amos’ faith reveals only two sources: this site, and a more recent derogatory citation by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation’s Chris Rodda, with an uncredited copy of a personal photograph of the same event she likely learned about through this site.
Ultimately, however, Amos’ faith is irrelevant. It would be folly to assert Read more
The WorldNetDaily is a right-leaning website that is most often hyperbolic and sensationalist. It has a few bright spots, but even they can be clouded over by the overhyped presentation.
If one can look past the adjectives, however, they may be accurately reporting the request for relief of an Army Lieutenant Colonel over the recent repeal of the combined policy/law known as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
The text of the commander’s letter to his superiors asking that he be relieved of command is included on the site. It says in part Read more
The Hill reports that the Armed Services committees have agreed to a “pared down” National Defense Authorization Act. The bill passed on Wednesday was “devoid” of controversial measures, including
The Burris Amendment would have permitted abortions Read more
Gays have been in the military since the beginning of armed conflict, and allowing them to admit that fact does not change the fact that they take the same risk as straight service members and are due the same respect.
Quotes like these are increasingly common — even from Christians — and demonstrate ignorance of the point of those who have opposed repeal of the law banning homosexuals from serving.
The fact that homosexuals have served within the military, in violation of the law, does not nullify the validity of the law (anymore than violation of any other law does so).
Risk, sacrifice, etc, are all irrelevant. There is no Read more